Plan calls for replacing the troubled Eisenhower Memorial Commission

Elise Foley joins HuffPost Live to discuss the family of Dwight Eisenhower voicing their displeasure with the Eisenhower memorial.

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The troubled Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission would get replaced under legislation just introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) introduced the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission Reform Act (H.R. 5203) to redo the plan for the Eisenhower Memorial that is supposed to be constructed in Washington, DC to honor the general and U.S. president. The legislation first became available online on the congressional website on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

The House Appropriations Committee recently approved a spending bill for FY 15 that would knock out funding for the existing commission. The commission received $1 million in federal funds last year and asked for $2 million for next year.

The Eisenhower family objected to the original design and others cited safety concerns for the monument, which is supposed to be built south of the National Mall in front of the U.S. Department of Education. The commission was created in 1999 and still hasn't delivered the goods.

The legislation picked up six cosponsors. It was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. Bishop chairs the committee's Subcommittee on Public Lands & Environmental Regulation.

Bishop's bill would revamp the commission hat oversees the project. The new commissioners would not have to include members of the House and Senate. Before anyone gets appointed as a commissioner, the Eisenhower Foundation located in Abilene, Kan. would have to be consulted. The current commission consists of four representatives, four senators and four private citizens.

All existing members of the commission would be booted out as soon as the bill becomes law. And the entire commission staff from the executive director on down would be fired within 30 days. All the commission's records would have to be stored by the General Services Administration or the U.S. Department of the Interior until the new commission is put in place. Then the new commission would get the records as soon as possible.

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Charles Pekow is an award winning journalist, outdoors enthusiast and bicyclist who writes often for print and internet about Mid-Atlantic day trips and bike rides. He keeps on top of recreational-related issues and ideas.